Chapter 57: A World for Two.
After seeing off Red Boy and bidding farewell to Sun Wukong, the first thing Jiang Huaisu and Nezha did upon returning to Flower Fruit Mountain was, of course, to close the door and continue the work they hadn't been able to finish before.
The bed curtains were drawn back, and we got straight to the point.
Jiang Huaisu had always suspected that certain plots in romance novels were exaggerated, such as the male protagonist having sex multiple times in one night. Was it really feasible in reality? Wouldn't such high-intensity activity lead to exhaustion and harm to the body? Even if the body could handle it, wouldn't repeated occurrences in a short period... cause a period of post-coital relaxation?
In retrospect, the book's writings were somewhat restrained. After all, her situation was rather unique; her boyfriend wasn't human, and she couldn't be judged by conventional standards.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally and conducted thorough research on relevant literature, she still underestimated the other party's enthusiasm when the time came. This god not only had such strong recovery ability that there was almost no downtime, but also had a very strong desire to explore, always inviting her to try various things with an irresistible gentleness.
One problem after another, is this the downside of dating a god? He seems to never get tired! Jiang Huaisu had initially hoped to compete with him, barely managing to hold on for the first half of the night. But seeing Nezha's boundless energy, she finally realized she couldn't compete with this stamina monster in endurance. Exhausted to the point where she could barely lift her fingers, she decisively conceded defeat.
Nezha asked in confusion, "When did we start competing again?"
"..." Jiang Huaisu turned her head. "Anyway, let's rest for a while first."
The shrewd Lotus Root Man didn't miss her signal to stop, but he didn't say yes directly either. He just pressed his head against her soft waist and abdomen and said, "You won't get tired. You can continue lying down. I'll take care of the rest."
Noticing his head was drooping lower and lower, Jiang Huaisu was so shocked she almost kicked him off the bed. Instead, she was held firmly in place and forced to accept the services of a three-headed, six-armed man. She quickly witnessed just how low his standards were in this area; he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and would do anything to arouse her interest.
After a night of torrential rain and strong winds, the already flimsy wooden bed was completely destroyed.
Jiang Huaisu couldn't remember whether she had fallen asleep or passed out; her first time acting so wildly was truly unexpected. All she could say was that her partner was exceptionally talented at seduction, managing to get her to agree to all sorts of requests without her even realizing it.
Lust blinds one's senses!
Fortunately, Nezha took the initiative to clean up the mess. When he woke up the next day, the wooden bed frame had been replaced with a sturdy and durable stone bed, and the sheets and blankets that had been messed up the night before had been washed and dried, and replaced with dry and fresh new bedding.
Seeing her open her eyes in bed, Nezha took off his clothes and tried to crawl in with her to take a nap.
Her eyelids twitched: "No way!"
Knowing what she was worried about, Nezha gave her a bright and cheerful smile: "It's just sleeping, don't worry."
Watching him warily, Jiang Huaisu breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he had indeed closed his eyes. Although she didn't dislike doing that, she probably couldn't do it again in a short time; it was more tiring than cultivation and tested her physical strength too much.
But as he was sleeping, he started to get restless again, turning around and rolling into Jiang Huaisu's arms, snuggling down and wrapping his arms around her waist, making him look like a little bird clinging to her.
He nuzzled Jiang Huaisu's chin with the top of his head and reminded her with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Hug me."
"......"
Having tasted meat, Nezha seemed to have unleashed his true nature, becoming even more adept at acting cute. He so confidently demanded a hug, as if certain she wouldn't refuse.
Okay, it's not really an unreasonable request. Jiang Huaisu looked at him with a "I can't do anything with you" expression, reaching out to hug Nezha's head, taking a deep breath of the lotus fragrance, and casually stroking his hair, like petting a large dog. He even complained that the hug wasn't tight enough, gesturing for Jiang Huaisu to apply more pressure. Yeah, just like with large dogs, if you pet them too gently, they'll get annoyed.
I understand why some people become clingy and affectionate when they're in a relationship; this close, intimate embrace does indeed make people feel at ease.
As if fast-forwarding into the phase of an old married couple, her interactions with Nezha have become much more relaxed. Regarding the frequency of their intimate relations, the two occasionally have disagreements, but their current consensus is not to have children.
Completely unprepared to welcome a new life, Jiang Huaisu decided to maintain the status quo.
Nezha obtained a contraceptive elixir from Laozi. This elixir was quite popular among deities with partners, since procreation would present them with far more trouble than for mortals. Lady Yin's birth of three sons and one daughter was an exceptional case. The general attitude in the celestial realm was to control the mouths of deities and prevent them from having children unless absolutely necessary.
Watching Nezha toss the contraceptive pill into his mouth and crunch it, Jiang Huaisu asked, "What does it taste like?"
"It doesn't taste good, it's like overcooked beans."
Jiang Huaisu pondered for a moment: "Actually, I think even if you don't eat this, we might not be able to have a child."
"Why?"
"I can't imagine what lotus flowers and magpies could produce. There might be reproductive isolation."
Nezha, on the other hand, presented compelling arguments for the existence of the nine sons of the dragon, demonstrating the feasibility of interspecies reproduction. In his view, he and Jiang Huaisu were most likely capable of having children.
But that doesn't matter anymore. They've already decided not to have children and will focus on their life as a couple. Jiang Huaisu is confident in the effects of Laozi's elixir; there's absolutely no chance of an unplanned pregnancy. She won't have to worry about it when they're intimate anymore; it was such a hassle to always stain the sheets before.
Several years passed, and Jiang Huaisu and Nezha's married life became more and more harmonious. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong also received good news: Tang Sanzang finally passed by the Five Elements Mountain, removed the Buddha's seal, and freed the poor monkey who had been imprisoned under the mountain for five hundred years.
The first thing Sun Wukong did after emerging from the clouds was to frolic and roll around in the sky and the sea. Having not stretched his muscles for hundreds of years, he couldn't stop once he started flying. He even flew to Flower Fruit Mountain to tell Jiang Huaisu and the little monkeys the good news.
Upon learning that the pilgrimage mission had finally officially begun, Jiang Huaisu was also happy for Sun Wukong and prepared a feast to send him off.
Tang Sanzang waited at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain for three days, almost thinking he had been abandoned by his disciple. He sat on a rock and secretly wiped away his tears, startling Sun Wukong who arrived late: "Master, who bullied you?"
Tang Sanzang glanced at him and confirmed that it was indeed his hairy-faced eldest disciple. His mood instantly brightened, and he wiped away his tears, flashing a bright smile at him: "No, no! Disciple, you're back. Let's set off quickly."
During Sun Wukong's journey to the West, Jiang Huaisu decided to stay in the mortal realm. She reasoned that the Monkey King was currently undergoing the arduous process of overcoming the eighty-one tribulations; how could she miss such an important and exciting event? If she stayed at the Cloud Tower Palace for half a month, the journey to the West would be over by the time she returned—what a pity!
A month or so later, she and Nezha were sitting in front of the Water Curtain Cave, giving the little monkeys a bath. These monkeys always had lice on them, and Nezha was disgusted by them. Ignoring the monkeys' resistance, he was determined to clean them thoroughly from head to toe that day.
The little monkey, covered in water, struggled a couple of times, but couldn't escape from Nezha's grasp.
"Your Majesty, save me!"
Nezha, gripping the monkey's tail without flinching, said, "Even if you, the Great King, come, it won't help. You must wash it clean today, or I'll shave off all your monkey hair."
"Your Majesty!" The little monkey was still not giving up. He looked ahead and started splashing around in the water, using both his hands and feet.
"...It's time to wash it off; the mud on it has all caked up." This time, it was the King's voice that rang out. The little monkey pouted and drooped its head, knowing that it couldn't escape this scrubbing today. Even the King wasn't helping it.
Nezha didn't even look up: "Weren't you supposed to be protecting your master on his journey to the West? What are you doing back here?"
Standing by the stream was Sun Wukong, whom we hadn't seen for a while. He was wearing a newly tailored tiger-skin skirt and looked quite well, but his brows and eyes betrayed his anxiety. It was clear that his journey to the west had not been smooth. In just one month, he had encountered more troubles than in the previous five hundred years combined.
“I’ve brought my master with me. The journey is difficult, so I’ll go back to Flower Fruit Mountain and get a good meal.”
Jiang Huaisu looked at the bald monk on Sun Wukong's back with curiosity. He had fair and delicate skin, which matched her imagination of Tang Sanzang. His appearance was impeccable. No wonder there were always female demons on the road who wanted to marry the monk.
"Thank you for your help, esteemed benefactors." Tang Sanzang slid off Sun Wukong's back and greeted Jiang Huaisu and Nezha. Before coming, his disciple had already introduced the two to him.
Nezha looked at him thoughtfully, smiled, and replied, "Elder Tang, you're too kind."
The young monk seemed quite shy. After saying a few words, he retreated behind Sun Wukong.
“The last time we met, he was called Jin Chanzi, which is very different from how he is now.” Nezha whispered in Jiang Huaisu’s ear, sharing anecdotes with her. “Back then, he had quite a temper.”
Jiang Huaisu was somewhat surprised: "You two know each other?"
"Not really, I just saw it when I heard the Buddha preaching."
Since they were just there to freeload, she couldn't leave them waiting at the door. Jiang Huaisu told Nezha to continue bathing the little monkey while she prepared a few simple vegetarian dishes. Since monks don't eat meat, this saved her some trouble.
Sun Wukong settled Tang Sanzang in the cave hall and then ran to the kitchen to help.
The two of them were chopping and washing vegetables, one chopping and the other washing. Jiang Huaisu waved the kitchen knife and took the initiative to talk to Sun Wukong: "Did something happen on the way?" If it was just to improve the food, they shouldn't have gone this far.
Just then, Nezha finished bathing the monkeys and thought he'd come to the kitchen to lend a hand. Seeing Sun Wukong there, he was a little annoyed: "Why aren't you keeping your master company?"
"Mind your own business."
Two more people suddenly appeared in the cramped space, making it difficult to even turn around. With each step Jiang Huaisu took, the monkey and lotus root followed her, as if they had two extra tails.
After exchanging a few more words with Nezha, Sun Wukong finally brought up the unpleasant incident he had encountered on the road: Tang Sanzang's horse had been eaten by a dragon. It wouldn't have been a big problem, but Tang Sanzang was delicate and frail, and without his mount, the journey would be much more difficult.
“I need to find a good horse for my master.” He said, explaining his plan. “The horses I can find nearby are all short-legged and small, or old, weak, sick, or disabled. How can they carry my master for long distances? I might as well let my master rest at Flower Fruit Mountain for a few days, and I’ll go to Heaven to ask if I can get a celestial horse.”
Nezha grasped the key point: "Dragon?"
"Yes, there was a white dragon living in Eagle's Sorrow Gorge. We were passing by when it chewed up my master's mount as food."
Nezha exclaimed incredulously, "You can't even defeat a sea dragon?"
"Of course I could beat him! But then he turned into a water snake and ran away, and I didn't bother chasing him. Anyway, the horse had already been swallowed, so how could I save it?"
Jiang Huaisu, who had been listening in the entire time, looked completely bewildered, three question marks appearing above her head. Wait, where's the beginner's guide? Why didn't anyone tell Monkey King that this dragon was the mount the Bodhisattva prepared for his master?
"Have you ever thought about having that white dragon take the horse's place?" Jiang Huaisu hinted furiously.
"Using a dragon as a mount?" Sun Wukong pondered the feasibility of this idea. "I'm afraid it wouldn't be stable to ride on. Dragon scales are slippery, and it's difficult to find a suitable saddle."
“Why not just turn him into a horse?” When the hints failed, Jiang Huaisu simply said directly, “I’ve heard that the Third Prince of the Dragon King violated the Heavenly Laws, but the Bodhisattva saved his life and sent him to Eagle Sorrow Gorge. He is a sinner, so carrying your master to the Western Paradise would be a good way for him to atone for his sins.”
"Good idea, but he refuses to come out of the deep ravine to see me. Am I supposed to go to the South China Sea to find the Bodhisattva again...?"
After considering it for a while, Sun Wukong surprisingly felt that the matter was very feasible. A white dragon as a mount would certainly be superior to an ordinary horse, significantly increasing their travel speed. Asking the Bodhisattva for help wouldn't be a bad idea.
The worry between his brows vanished instantly, and he decisively said, "Okay, it's settled then. We'll go to the South China Sea after dinner!"
Nezha asked Jiang Huaisu, "Which Third Prince of the Dragon?"
"From the West Sea."
"Oh." That must be Ao Run's son.
What followed was quite logical: Sun Wukong went to the South Sea to explain the situation to the Bodhisattva and ask her to deal with the evil dragon. Nezha, under the guise of visiting Muzha, also went to the South Sea to join in the fun, and Jiang Huaisu naturally went with him, happy to be a bystander.
After hearing what had happened, the Bodhisattva seemed somewhat helpless and smiled, "That dragon was originally ordered to wait for the pilgrims at Eagle's Sorrow Gorge to serve as their mount, how did it end up eating your master's horse instead?"
Sun Wukong was stunned: "Huh?" He had been so focused on fighting that the other party hadn't mentioned this.
A large group of people, gods, and demons arrived at Eagle's Sorrow Gorge. The Bodhisattva summoned the White Dragon to act as a mediator and clear up the misunderstanding between him and Wukong.
Muzha stood in front of the Bodhisattva from beginning to end, acting like a bodyguard, and glared at the white dragon, clearly disliking him. The Bodhisattva had given this dragon a chance back then, yet he was so useless, running off to eat someone else's horse; what a waste of the Bodhisattva's kindness.
The White Dragon was also a proud and arrogant person. Although he bowed his head and admitted his mistake to Sun Wukong at the Bodhisattva's instruction, his eyes still revealed a stubbornness that refused to be disciplined.
Nezha, standing to the side, coldly commented: "Deserves a beating..."
Jiang Huaisu quickly covered his mouth, saying, "Kind words create good relationships. At this time, it's better to focus on watching the fun and avoid making the situation more chaotic."
Upon closer examination, none of Tang Sanzang's disciples were easy to deal with.
Sun Wukong, needless to say, dared to challenge even the heavens. If Tang Sanzang hadn't had the golden headband, he certainly wouldn't have been able to control him. But this rebellious disciple joined the team most smoothly. Moreover, after establishing a certain bond, Sun Wukong never considered running away again, settling down and wholeheartedly protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures.
In comparison, the process of Little White Dragon and Pigsy joining the team was more and more difficult. Just when Ao Lie's team had finally settled down, Pigsy joined, and he was even more troublesome than Little White Dragon. He kept clamoring to divide the luggage and go back to Gao Family Village to be a son-in-law.
Sha Wujing was slightly better, not often following his second brother in causing trouble, but he also lacked initiative. He only moved when pushed and needed clear instructions to do anything. Usually, he would do whatever his eldest brother pointed to, but wouldn't do anything without being told.
It's not that Sha Wujing is lazy, but when there's someone more reliable than him in the team, he will decisively choose to outsource his brain to that reliable person, and he basically gives up thinking.
If you were to ask why Jiang Huaisu had such insightful views on the members of the pilgrimage team, it would be because these extraordinary people would come to Flower Fruit Mountain to ask for food and drink whenever they had nothing to do. They seemed to be deeply influenced by their senior brother and tacitly regarded Flower Fruit Mountain as their meal station.
They had a closer place to beg for alms, but they insisted on making this long journey. They may have had their fill of slacking off, but it made the already long journey to the West even longer.
One day, the four travelers arrived at Pingding Mountain, and it was Pigsy's turn to beg for alms. The area was sparsely populated, so they couldn't get much food. Feeding their master was easy, but Pigsy had a big appetite and insisted that this wasn't enough. He wanted to go to Monkey King's Flower Fruit Mountain to beg for more dry rations to keep them full on the road.
Tang Sanzang couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he had to tell Bajie, "Then we'll get going first. You go and come back quickly. This is the last time. Don't bother Miss Jiang again."
It's impossible to count how many "last times" Tang Sanzang has said. As Sun Wukong pulled on the reins and walked forward, he said to his master, "You should put a headband on him too, so he can experience the power of the headband spell. I guarantee he'll obey."
Tang Sanzang sighed, "But the Bodhisattva only gave me one. Wukong, you are the most capable, so I have no choice but to give it to you."
"......"
"Wukong, don't worry. As long as you don't hit your master, your master will never recite the incantation on his own initiative."
"Have I hit you along the way?"
"No."
"Have you recited any incantations?"
"Um... I only wanted to test its power the first time, I didn't expect this spell to be so terrifying. Wukong, believe me, I will never recite it again!"
Sun Wukong scoffed and said nothing more. After traveling west for several hours, they heard Tang Sanzang's stomach rumbling again.
The young monk was a little embarrassed: "I'm not hungry."
Sun Wukong tied the reins to a tree: "Alright, I'm going to beg for alms. Brother Sha, you stay here and watch over Master."
"Okay, senior brother."
"Don't leave his side for even a moment, keep your master tied to your belt."
"Okay, senior brother."
Half an hour later, Sun Wukong returned carrying a large bowl of boiled radishes. It was indeed inconvenient to beg for alms in this place, but fortunately, neither he nor his junior brother Sha had a big appetite, and this amount of radishes was enough to feed their master.
"..." After staring at his junior brother Sha for a long while, a vein throbbed on his forehead. "Where is Master?"
Sha Wujing, holding up his pants which were about to fall down, looked embarrassed.
"Senior Brother, Master has been kidnapped by a monster again. Tying him to our belts won't help."
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